Abstract: An RFID device according to one embodiment includes an active portion of a first inverted F antenna; a feed electrically coupled to the active portion; an active portion of a second inverted F antenna, a feed electrically coupled to the second active portion; a ground plane spaced from the active portions; and an RFID controller coupled to the feeds. An RFID device according to another embodiment includes an inverted F antenna having an active portion, a ground plane spaced from the active portion, and a feed coupled to the active portion, wherein the active portion includes multiple aims, a first of the arms having a first length and a second of the arms having a second length; and an RFID controller coupled to the feed.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes mounting a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag on a barrier, and positioning an external module that is coupled to the RFID tag on another side of the barrier. A method according to another embodiment includes detaching a first external module from physical communication with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, and attaching a second external module to the RFID tag.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag having a housing; an interface configured for detachable coupling to a connector that is coupleable or coupled to an external module having at least one of a battery and a remote sensor; a controller for processing data derived from an output of the remote sensor; a memory for storing the data derived from an output of the remote sensor and/or the processed data; and an antenna coupled to the controller for enabling backscatter communication.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes conummicating with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to a reusable transport item (RTI); and determining whether the RTI has passed a predetermined useful lifetime thereof based on information received from the RFID tag. A method according to one embodiment includes conummicating with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to a reusable transport item (RTI); and determining both a horizontal and vertical position of the RTI. A method according to yet another embodiment includes communicating with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to a reusable transport item (RTI); and performing an action based at least in part on at least one of a location and a determined inactivity of the RTI.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag having a housing; an interface configured for detachable coupling to a connector that is coupleable or coupled to an external module having at least one of a battery and a remote sensor; a controller for processing data derived from an output of the remote sensor; a memory for storing the data derived from an output of the remote sensor and/or the processed data; and an antenna coupled to the controller for enabling backscatter communication.

Abstract: An RFID device according to one embodiment includes an active portion of a first inverted F antenna; a feed electrically coupled to the active portion; an active portion of a second inverted F antenna, a feed electrically coupled to the second active portion; a ground plane spaced from the active, portions; and an RFID controller coupled to the feeds. An RFID device according to another embodiment includes an inverted F antenna having an active portion, a ground plane spaced from the active portion, and a feed coupled to the active portion, wherein the active portion includes multiple aims, a first of the arms having a first length and a second of the arms having a second length; and an RFID controller coupled to the feed.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes conummicating with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to a reusable transport item (RTI); and determining whether the RTI has passed a predetermined useful lifetime thereof based on information received from the RFID tag. A method according to one embodiment includes conummicating with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to a reusable transport item (RTI); and determining both a horizontal and vertical position of the RTI. A method according to yet another embodiment includes communicating with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to a reusable transport item (RTI); and performing an action based at least in part on at least one of a location and a determined inactivity of the RTI.

Abstract: An RFID device according to one embodiment includes an inverted F antenna having an active portion, a ground plane spaced from the active portion, and a feed coupled to and coplanar with the active portion; and an RFID controller coupled to the feed. An inverted F antenna according to another embodiment includes a substrate for an RFID device; an active portion coupled to the substrate; a ground plane spaced from the active portion; and a feed coupled to and coplanar with the active portion. An inverted F antenna according to yet another embodiment includes an active portion coupled to the substrate; a ground plane spaced from the active portion; a feed coupled to and coplanar with the active portion; and an extension portion being selectively coupleable to the active portion for altering a wavelength of the inverted F antenna.

Abstract: An antenna system for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag in one embodiment includes a base portion; at least one angled portion oriented to have a tangential angle of between about 1 degree and about 179 degrees from a plane of the base portion; and an antenna trace on the at least one angled portion. An antenna system for an RFID tag in another embodiment includes a base portion; at least one angled portion having at least two sections each oriented to have a tangential angle of between about 1 degree and about 179 degrees from a plane of the base portion, the two sections having different overall angles relative to the base portion; and an antenna trace on the at least one angled portion. Additional systems and methods are presented.

Abstract: An antenna system for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag in one embodiment includes a base portion; at least one angled portion oriented to have a tangential angle of between about 1 degree and about 179 degrees from a plane of the base portion; and an antenna trace on the at least one angled portion. An antenna system for an RFID tag in another embodiment includes a base portion; at least one angled portion having at least two sections each oriented to have a tangential angle of between about 1 degree and about 179 degrees from a plane of the base portion, the two sections having different overall angles relative to the base portion; and an antenna trace on the at least one angled portion. Additional systems and methods are presented.

Abstract: An RFID device according to one embodiment includes an inverted F antenna having an active portion, a ground plane spaced from the active portion, and a feed coupled to and coplanar with the active portion; and an RFID controller coupled to the feed. An inverted F antenna according to another embodiment includes a substrate for an RFID device; an active portion coupled to the substrate; a ground plane spaced from the active portion; and a feed coupled to and coplanar with the active portion. An inverted F antenna according to yet another embodiment includes an active portion coupled to the substrate; a ground plane spaced from the active portion; a feed coupled to and coplanar with the active portion; and an extension portion being selectively coupleable to the active portion for altering a wavelength of the inverted F antenna.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for testing a magnetic disk and a read head are provided. A reference track is written on the magnetic disk. The read head is scanned laterally with respect to the reference track while the magnetic disk is rotating. The reference track is sensed with the read head as the read head is scanned across the reference track to produce a scanned read signal that is representative of disk and read head performance. The scanned read signal may be processed to provide parameters such as track average amplitude, signal-to-noise ratio, and pulse width of write transitions.

Abstract: The user controller for a video game has a set of auxiliary buttons from which a user may input requests to store, request and execute stored sequences of user playing button settings. The auxiliary buttons are programmable and could be assigned to arbitrary special moves matching the needs of different games or of different stages of one game. The controller can store any arbitrary sequence of user play button settings to relieve the user from having to repeat inputting the sequence. The user may also add to a stored sequence during execution on the fly to form a merged sequence which may be stored. The controller also permits the user to override a stored sequence during execution. Special moves possible include a sequence of fast paced reproductions of predetermined moves. The controller also disregards unintended idle settings to provide more realistic rendition of stored sequences.